Yarraville residents and traders are stepping up their fight against the introduction of paid parking by undertaking their own parking study.
Their undertaking follows Maribyrnong council’s wrapping up of its investigation into accusations that Cr Catherine Cumming referred to protesting residents and traders as “squealing pigs”.
Yarraville resident Gary Au said the lack of evidence put forward by the council in its proposal had inspired him to set up an independent survey.
Dr Au, a University of Melbourne researcher, said the survey would draw on the work of international experts about the effects of the introduction of paid parking. The study will collect data on the parking and shopping habits of people living in and visiting Yarraville and Seddon. It will be used as the basis of a report to the council ahead of an October 14 decision on the paid parking proposal.
“I attended the information session at the Sun Theatre in Yarraville and what I saw was different sides of the story, but no form of evidence on which to base anything,” Dr Au said. “Why not bring some evidence? I contacted all the paid parking experts around the world and we’re basing our survey on this.”
Dr Au said the council was assuming increased turnover of vehicles equated directly with increased business, an assumption not supported by all studies. He is encouraging a wide range of respondents to undertake the survey, with a target of 1300 respondents to make it comparable to a similar Dutch study. Residents and traders objecting to the introduction of paid parking will march from Yarraville to Seddon at 10am on October 11. To access the survey, visit www.nopaidparking.com.au.
Meanwhile, the council’s internal investigation into Cr Cumming’s “squealing pigs” comment found no breach of the Local Government Act or councillor code of conduct, a decision that infuriated complainant Megan Darling. “I am deeply upset that not only is she permitted to say such things, but that council is willing to allow it to continue.”
